Friends since BSO

Bobcat Student Orientation (BSO) brought more than 10,000 people to Ohio University throughout the summer, as incoming students and their families gathered to prepare for the start of the academic year.

A truly campuswide effort, BSO introduced the newest Bobcats and their family members to college life and helped them feel welcome as part of the OHIO community. Most BSO sessions were held this summer, but students still have multiple opportunities to sign up for orientation and join OHIO this fall. 

“I am so thankful to everyone who helped to make BSO a success again this year,” said Kathy Fahl, associate vice president of student affairs and dean of students. “Our incoming students and family members told us they had a great experience here as we welcomed our new Bobcats to campus and helped them prepare for the fall semester.”

During the orientation sessions, students learned more about academic programs, heard from current students about college life, scheduled their classes, found their way around campus and had opportunities to get to know other students through different activities. In addition, family members learned more about what college life will be like for their Bobcats, and had their questions answered about student life at Ohio University.

Students reported in surveys after BSO that the orientation sessions were very helpful.

“Everybody made me feel so welcomed, making me seem like it was ok asking too many questions about something simple,” one incoming student said. “This made me feel secure in what I was doing and really made me love the place even more.”

Family members also reported in the surveys that they were pleased with how organized and helpful the orientation sessions were. Some family members even talked about how BSO made them wish they were new students, too.

“I was thoroughly impressed with BSO and every university representative,” a family member of one new student said in a survey response. “It really made me feel good about my son's choice, and I feel confident that he will love being a Bobcat! I'm also impressed that you all do this many, many times. It really felt like you brought fresh energy to it, and I appreciate that you have to rinse and repeat this performance again and again. Well done!”

“Having an older student at another university, I really did feel the difference at OHIO in that they really care about these students and are very thorough in that caretaking,” another family member of a new student said in a survey response. “The campus pride is palpable and makes me want to come here myself!”

OHIO students overwhelmingly said in surveys they submitted after BSO that the program helped them feel comfortable beginning their time and OHIO.

• 96% of students agreed that attending BSO increased their confidence in their decision to attend Ohio University.
• 95% of students reported making a connection with another student during orientation.
• 97% of students agreed that the BSO orientation leaders helped them feel welcomed and prepared.
• 96% of students rated their overall BSO experience as either Excellent or Good.
• 96% of students agreed that they feel they belong in the OHIO community.

How does Ohio University organize BSO for more than 10,000 visitors? It takes a tremendous amount of time, effort and dedication from campus partners across the University.

Here are a few figures highlighting the hours, special activities and extra efforts that went into BSO 2026.

• 60,000+ emails sent by the Enrollment Management communications team to students and guests to help them prepare for BSO.
• 1,552 collective hours spent staffing the resource fair.
• 13 evenings spent at BSO Blast by Ping Recreation Center, Sorority and Fraternity Life, and Culinary Services staff from 8-10:00 p.m.
• 24,000+ meals served in the dining halls for BSO students and guests.
• 520+ collective hours provided by Event Services staff to run the BSO programs in Templeton- Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
• 13 extra times Morton Hall and Templeton- Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium were cleaned by OHIO staff for BSO events.
• 144 alternative BSO experiences coordinated.
• 67,500+ course hours enrolled. More will be added as the summer continues.

For more information on BSO, see the Bobcat Student Orientation website.